Multiple drum carrier

ABSTRACT

A carrier for carrying a plurality of musical drums on the person of a drummer. The carrier includes means for adjustably mounting the drums on a support member resting against the front of the person for improved positioning of the drums for play by the drummer. The carrier is arranged to dispose the drums with the upper beating head substantially in a common plane with a preselected spacing therebetween while permitting the drums to have different diameters and axial lengths.

. n istates l tatent [19] 1 Nov; 27,1973

' Hoellerich MULTIPLE DRUM CARRIER 7 3,021,744 2 1962 Kester. 84/421 75Inventor: John L. Hoellerich, Wilmette, Ill. I Y wPrimaryExaminer-GeraldM. Forlenza [73] Ass1gnee: Slmgerland Drum Co.,Chicago, Ill. Assistant Examiner jerold Forsberg 22 Filed; 2 1971Att0rney1-lofgren Wegner, Allen 21 A 1. No.: 204 122 1 pp 57 ABSTRACT 2U CL 2245s 84/421. 224/25 A carrier for carrying a plurality of musicaldrums on [51] i p l 7 hlogsloo the person of a drummer. Thecarrierincludes means [58] Fieid 5 v R for 'adjustably mounting thedrums on a support mem- 224/5 A 5 B 5 5 N ber resting against the frontof the person for im- 26 5 5 F 4 proved positioning ofthe drums for playby thedrummer. Thecarrier is arranged to dispose theldrums with 5Refernces'cit'ed the upper beating head substantially in a common v 1plane with a preselected spacing therebetween while UNITED STATES PA Ipermitting the' drums to have different diameters and 1,703,450 2/1929Jakku 224/5 i l h r 1,810,519 6/1931 Gerhart 224/5 v 5 3,106,123 v10/1963 Johann'sen 14 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures MULTIPLE DRUM CARRIERBACKGROUNDOF'THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention v This inventionrelates to musical instrument accessories and in particularto carriersfor carrying musical drums on the person ofa drummer. I

2 Descriptionof the Prior Art V A number of different carriers have beendeveloped for carrying two or more drums on the person of a drummerwhereby the drums maybe played while the drummer is marching, etc. Theknown constructions FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the carrier socket Ymeans as mounted on a'portion of a drum;

have the disadvantage .of relative complexity and high cost and do notprovide optimum efficiency in the mounting and dismounting of the drums.Further, the known constructions do not provide desirable adjustabilityin the arrangement ofthe drums and desirable disposition of the beatingheads. Y

SUMMARY 'OF THE INVENTION J FIG. 5 is a fragmentary vertical section ofa pair of lower end thereof; and

drums and an interconnecting element disposed at the FIG. 6.is afragmentary vertical section taken, substantially along the line 6-6 ofFIG. 3 of a pair of drums and an interconnecting element disposed at theupper end thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In the exemplary embodiment ofthe invention as disclosed in the drawing, a drum carrier generallydesignated 10 is shown for use in carrying a plurality of drums 11, 12and 13 on' the person of a drummer to be The present inventioncomprehends .an improved carrier for carrying a-plurality of musicaldrums onthe person of a'drummereliminating thedisadvantages of the knownconstructions in anovelandsimple manner.

More specifically, the present inventio n'comprehe nds the provision ofmultipledrum carrier including a-support member, means for mountingthe-support member played such as with'conventional beaters 14.

g The carrier includes a curved baseplate 15 provided a on its rearsurface with a suitable resilient pad to bear against the front of thedrummer. Suitable clips 17 may be provided at the opposite endsof theplate 15 for at'-'. tachment thereto of sling means 18. A neck sling 19.may be connected at its lower'end to a portion of the carrier as will bebrought'out more fully hereinafter, to complete themounting of theassembly on the person for facilitatedplaying of the drums. The drumsare coni nected-to baseplate 15 by means of a plurality of arm to thedrummers body to bear rearwar'dly against the front of thedrummer,aplui-ality of arm. members,

pivot means pivotally mounting one'end of each arm member to the supportmember for swinging forwardly of the support member-about spacedvertical axes, andsecuring means on the distal-end'of eacharm member forreleasably securing a musical drum thereto, whereby a plurality of thedrums maybe carriedby the drummer'in laterally adjusted'side-by-side,axially vertical relationship foriplay by the drummer.

of the arms and cooperating devices carried on the drums. Morespecifically, the. adjustable mounting'devices may comprise insert andsocket elements arranged to permit'the mountingof the drum on thecarrier by a simple fitted receptionof the cooperating elements one tothe other; In the illustrated embodiment,

'the mounting devices comprise wedge shaped clips carried on the distalends of thearms and corresponding socket elements carried on thedrumshell.

Means may be-provided interconnecting the counter hoops of the drums inside-by-side relationship to stabilize the mounting and to provide apreselectedsp'aced relationship between the'drums. The mounting devicesmay be arranged to dispose the beating heads of the drums in a commonhorizontal plane in, front of the drummer notwithstanding a difierenceinthe different drums.

v BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING the length of I The securing meansmay compriseportions of adjustable drum mounting devices carriedon thedistal ends members 20, 21, and 22 which'are pivotally connected tothebaseplate by' means of a corresponding'plurality of pivot elements23, 24 and 25, as best seen in FIG. 2'. Each pivot element comprises asimilar U-shaped' bracket having a bight portion 26 secured to the plate1-5 as by rivets '27, and forwardlyprojecting legs 28.

Bracket 23 is connected to the plate 15 at one end thereof and bracket25isconnected to plate 15 at'the opposite end thereof. Bracket 24 isconnected to the plate at the mid-portion thereof, as shown in FIG. 2}.Armmembers 20,21 and 22 comprise U-shapedbrackets. Arm members 20 and 22are similar in defining U brackets having relatively short legs 29 andbight portions 30. The arm member 21 comprises a U-bracket generallysimilarto U-brackets 20 and 22, but having relatively long legs 31.joined by a'bight portion 32. The

respective legs 29 and 31 are pivotally connected totheout-turned legs28 of the plate mounted'brackets 23, 24 I and 25 by suitable rivet-typepivots 33, permitting the j U-brackets 20', 21 and22 to swing aboutvertical axes forwardly of the plate 15.

The drums are secured to the bight portions 30 and v 32 of therespective arm members 20, 21 and22 bysecuring means generallydesignated 34. Herein the securing meanscomprise insert and socket meansadapted to permit facilitated installation of the drums on theU-brac'ket' arm members while yet securely retaining the drumsin placethereon for playby the drummer. Thus, in the illustrated embodiment, thesecuring means comprise upwardly narrowing wedge clips 35 andcorrespondingly downwardlynarrbwing wedge sockets 36. Clips 35 may besecured to bight portions 30 and 32 of the respectivearms by suitablemeans, such as screws 37, and sockets 36 may be secured to the drumshell 38 by suitable means, such as screws 39. Itshould be understoodthat a reverse ar rangement would functionsimilarly, namely, theprovision of the socket elements 36 to narrow downwardly on arm bightportions 30 and32 and the clip elements 35 on the drum shell 38 tonarrow downwardly. A pair of the arm, maximum stability in the mountingof the.

drum assembly on thepersons body is obtained.

The securing means 34 may, be so located on the bracket arm members andthe drum so as to cause the drum heads 41 of the respective drums to liein a single common horizontal plane, as shown in FIG. 1, notwithstandinga differencein the axial lengths of the respective drums 11', 12 and 13.Similarly, the mounting brackets 20, 21 and 22 may be swung suitably toposition the respective drums in spaced association, as shown in FIG;3,'with the center d'rum- 12 extending substantially directly forwardlyof the drummer. Thus,

where the lefthand drum 13 is of larger "diameter than i the righthanddrurn 11, the bracket 22 is swung angu- 'larly slightly further awayfrom the foreand-aft centerline so as to space the somewhat largerdiameter drum equidistant from the drum 12 as the spacing'of the smallerdrum 1 l therefrom. The drums may be secured in the adjusted spacedrelationship by suitable interconnecting devices generally designated42, as shown in FIG. 6. Each interconnecting device may comprise anouter U-member 43-having downturned legs 44 and an inner U-member 45having downturned legs 46 cle-v fining therebetween adjustment spaces47. Bearing plates 48 are suitably carried on the bight portion of theouter U-member. 43 and thumbscrews 49 are threaded into the downturnedlegs 44 of outer U-member 43 to bear against plates'48 andurge theplates'against the inner surface 50 of the drum counter hoop with thedownturned leg. 46 of the inner U-bracket 45 abutting the outersurface'51 of the counter hoop thereby to clamp the counter hoopbetween. the plate 48 and the bracket leg 46. Each of the counter hoopsof the adjacent drum portions is so clamped and, thus, the drums are sosecured in the desired. spaced relationship as shown in FIG. 3, thespacing between the drums being fixed by the length of the smallU-member 45.

As indicated above, the drums 11, 12 and 13. may have different axialextents and, thus, the lower ends of the drums may be at differentlevels while the upper ends 41 are disposed in the desired common plane.To interconnect the drums at the lower ends while accommodating thedifferences in levels thereof, a modified form of interconnecting devicegenerally designated 42av is provided, as shown in FIG. 5. Device 42aincludes a strip 52 having angularly turned'parallel ends53 and 54. End53 carries an upturned U-bracket 55 and end 54 carries an upturnedU-bracket .56. A thumbscrew 57 is threaded through the outer leg58 ofthe upper U-bracket'55 to bear against the inner surface 50 of thecounter hoop with the inner leg 59 of the bracket bearing against theouter surface 51 of the counter hoop whereby the screw 57 locks theupper end of the bracket to the counter hoop. The lower bracket 56similarly has an outer leg 60 through which is threaded a thumbscrew 61to bear against the inner surface 50 of the counter hoop and urge thecounter hoop outer surface 51 against an inner leg 62 of the bracketthereby to secure the lower end of the device 42a to the second counterhoop and thereby interconnect thelower ends of the" drums rigidly inthedesired spaced relationshiplnthis regard, the spacing between inner legs55 and 62 of the-respective U-brackets is made to be equal to thespacing between the outer surfaces of the downturned legs of bracket 45of device 42 so that the drums will be mounted in axially parallelrelationship on the carrier by stabilizing of the devices 42 and 42a. 3i

Where the drums have equal axial heights, a straight interconnectingdevice may be employed at'the lower end as well as at the upper end ofthe drum.

By virtue of the different lengths of the arm members 20, 21 and 22, thedrum mounting is prevented from swinging freely about the axes of pivots33 thereby fur ther stabilizing the mounting of 'the drums on thecarrier.

' The carrier may be formed of a'relatively strong rigid material, suchas aluminum, to providedesired rigidity while yet effectively minimizingthe overall weight of the carrier for facilitated carrying of the drumassembly by the drummer. The structure of the drum carrier 10 isextremelysimple and economical 'of. construction while yet providing thefacilitated mounting and carrying of the desired plurality of drums asdesired.

If desired, the carrier may be used to carry'a single drum by merelymounting the single drum on the middle securing means 34. Furtheralternatively, the carrier maybe used as a two-drum carrier by mountingthe two drums on the side securing means 34 and swinging the armmembersthereof toward each other to juxtapose the two drums at thecenterline of the carrier with the two drumsbeing secured in the desiredspacedrelationship by the suitableinterconnecting devices. I

The foregoing disclosure of specific embodiments is illustrative of thebroad inventive concepts comprehendedby the invention.

I claim:

I 1. A carrier for carrying a plurality of musical drums on the personof adrummer, comprising: a support member; means for. mounting thesupport member to the drummers body to bear rearwardly against the t 1front of the drummer; a plurality of arm members; pivot means pivotallymounting one endof each arm member to-said support member for swingingforwardly of the support member about spaced vertical axes; se-

' curing means on the distal end of each arm memberfor releasablysecuring a musical drum thereto to extend outwardly therefrom, whereby aplurality of said drums may be carried by the drummer'in laterallyadjusted side-by-side, axially vertical relationship for play by the"drummer; and means for interconnecting the drums in:

said adjusted side-by-side relationship with each drum carried by asingle arm member.

2. The drum carrier of claim 1 wherein said pivot means comprisebrackets each havinga rear portion fixedly secured-to said supportmember, andan arm portion projecting forwardly therefrom, and said armmember one ends are pivotally secured to the arm portion of saidbrackets. v

3. The drum carrier of claim 1 wherein said pivot means compriseU-brackets each having a rear bight portion fixedly secured to'saidsupport member, and

' arm portions projecting forwardly therefrom, and said portions of saidU-brackets.

arm member one ends are pivotally secured to the arm 4. The drum carrierof clainil wherein saidarm s posed bight portions and rearwardlyextending arm portions, the rearwardend of said arm portions comprisingsaid one end of the arm members pivotally mounted to said supportmember, and said securing means being provided on said bight portion.

5. The drum carrier of claim 1 wherein said securing means comprisesawedge element on one of said arm members or the drum to be mountedthereon, and a complementary socket element on the-other vof said armmembers or the drum removably-receiving the wedge element therein. v

6. The drum carrier of claim 1 wherein said securing means comprises anupwardly narrowing wedge element on said arm member, and a comlementarysocket element on the drum 'removably receiving the wedge v elementtherein.

7. The drumcarrier of claim- 1 wherein said securing 7 means comprises apair of vertically spaced wedge elements an one of said arm members anddrum structure,

and a pair of correspondingly vertically spaced socket elements on theother. of said arm members anddrum structures removably receiving thewedge element therein. v

8. The drum carrier of claim lwherein said plurality of armmembersincludes one relatively short arm member and one relativelylong armmember.

9. The drum carrier of claim 1 wherein said plurality of arm membersincludes a pair of relatively short arm members and one relatively longarm member.

10. The drum carrier of claim 1 wherein said plurality.

of arm members includes a pair of relatively short arm I outwardlytherefrom, whereby a plurality of said drums horizontal planeirrespective of the axial heights of the v members at opposite ends ofsaid support member and one relatively long arm member at the center ofsaid may be carried by the drummer in laterally adjusted side-by-side,axially vertical relationship for play by the drummer; and means forlaterally interconnecting the drums in said adjusted side-by-siderelationship with each drum carried by a single arm member.

12. The drum carrier of claim 1 whereinsaid mounting devices comprisemeans for disposing the upper beatingv heads of the drumssubstantially'in acommon respective-drums. v v

13. The drum carrier of claim 1 wherein saidmeans for mounting thesupport member to the drummers body includes'a connector carried on aforwardmost distal portion of one of said arm members and a neck strapremovably connected thereto.

14. The drum carrier of claim 11 wherein said means for laterallyinterconnecting the drums comprises.

threaded clamp means adapted to clamp against the counter hoops of eachof a pair of adjuacent drums and an interconnecting element extendingtherebetween.

Ysof

1. A carrier for carrying a plurality of musical drums on the person ofa drummer, comprising: a support member; means for mounting the supportmember to the drummer''s body to bear rearwardly against the front ofthe drummer; a plurality of arm members; pivot means pivotally mountingone end of each arm member to said support member for swinging forwardlyof the support member about spaced vertical axes; securing means on thedistal end of each arm member for releasably securing a musical drumthereto to extend outwardly therefrom, whereby a plurality of said drumsmay be carried by the drummer in laterally adjusted side-by-side,axially vertical relationship for play by the drummer; and means forinterconnecting the drums in said adjusted side-by-side relationshipwith each drum carried by a single arm member.
 2. The drum carrier ofclaim 1 wherein said pivot means comprise brackets each having a rearportion fixedly secured to said support member, and an arm portionprojecting forwardly therefrom, and said arm member one ends arepivotally secured to the arm portion of said brackets.
 3. The drumcarrier of claim 1 wherein said pivot means comprise U-brackets eachhaving a rear bight portion fixedly secured to said support member, andarm portions projecting forwardly therefrom, and said arm member oneends are pivotally secured to the arm portions of said U-brackets. 4.The drum carrier of claim 1 wherein said arm members comprise U-bracketshaving forwardly disposed bight portions and rearwardly extending armportions, the rearward end of said arm portions comprising said one endof the arm members pivotally mounted to said support member, and saidsecuring means being provided on said bight portion.
 5. The drum carrierof claim 1 wherein said securing means comprises a wedge element on oneof said arm members or the drum to be mounted thereon, and acomplementary socket element on the other of said arm members or thedrum removably receiving the wedge element therein.
 6. The drum carrierof claim 1 wherein said securing means comprises an upwardly narrowingwedge element on said arm member, and a comlementary socket element onthe drum removably receiving the wedge element therein.
 7. The drumcarrier of claim 1 wherein said securing means comprises a pair ofvertically spaced wedge elements on one of said arm members and drumstructure, and a pair of correspondingly vertically spaced socketelements on the other of said arm members and drum structures removablyreceiving the wedge element therein.
 8. The drum carrier of claim 1wherein said plurality of arm members includes one relatively short armmember and one relatively long arm member.
 9. The drum carrier of claim1 wherein said plurality of arm members includes a pair of relativelyshort arm members and one relatively long arm member.
 10. The drumcarrier of claim 1 wherein said plurality of arm members includes a pairof relatively short arm members at opposite ends of said support memberand one relatively long arm member at the center of saiD support member.11. A carrier for carrying a plurality of musical drums on the person ofa drummer, comprising: a support member; means for mounting the supportmember to the drummer''s body to bear rearwardly against the front ofthe drummer; a plurality of arm members; pivot means pivotally mountingone end of each arm member to said support member for swinging forwardlyof the support member about spaced vertical axes; securing means on thedistal end of each arm member for releasably securing a musical drumthereto to extend outwardly therefrom, whereby a plurality of said drumsmay be carried by the drummer in laterally adjusted side-by-side,axially vertical relationship for play by the drummer; and means forlaterally interconnecting the drums in said adjusted side-by-siderelationship with each drum carried by a single arm member.
 12. The drumcarrier of claim 1 wherein said mounting devices comprise means fordisposing the upper beating heads of the drums substantially in a commonhorizontal plane irrespective of the axial heights of the respectivedrums.
 13. The drum carrier of claim 1 wherein said means for mountingthe support member to the drummer''s body includes a connector carriedon a forwardmost distal portion of one of said arm members and a neckstrap removably connected thereto.
 14. The drum carrier of claim 11wherein said means for laterally interconnecting the drums comprisesthreaded clamp means adapted to clamp against the counter hoops of eachof a pair of adjuacent drums and an interconnecting element extendingtherebetween.